The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-28
THE KANSAS FARMER.

We talked. or read, OF Idly sat. beholdirg
Betxixt the wire strung poles and April sky,
From dawn till dusk, the endlessly unfolding,
Swift panorama OF the land sweep by.
Tne twilight closed upon lonesome prairie,
paling sunset pierced by one faint star,
Above a house low -brOTed and solitary,
Seen from the windows of our passing car.
For miles there was no other habitation,
OHt from neignboring marsh a heron took
flight,
Rsose. gray and silent as an exhalston.
And grew a speck far in the fading light.
Framed BY the doorway in the frowning gable,
The figure OF a man stood dark and still:
so roof beside. but just a turf-walled stable,
Hahthatched with grass, half-sunkea In the
hill
A solemn mule couched on his bony launches;
Iank scE leaned and rubsed against her sty
10 tree, but one bare locust, IN whose branches
Turkeys were rOosting, black against the sky.
The man stood gazing. gaunt of frame and
So melancholy and so motionless.
A sharp compa5sionating thrill shot through
me.
With thinking OF his utter loneliness.
Far from the cheerful light OF human faces,
The glow OF friendly converse. how could he
Endure LOT as bare of all the graccs
As the surrounding hills OF house or tree?
EIc gazed as if with sad slrmise and longing
As thick sparks above the RS shing train.
His kindled thoughts and aspirations thrOnging
Toward some great good which he could dnever
gain.
The train few on. and snugly housed within it.
We saw the lonely exile left behind
But not till that brief vision of minute
Was photographed forever in the mind.
The train sped on with loud. relentless changing;
But gentler fancies IN my heart awOke.
as recalled in the wan twilight hanging
Above his roof, wreath OF cottage smoke.
Symbol of household cheer the whole world
over
Perfect contentment brims no mortal breast
The dweller with the prairie-dog and gopher,
No doubt has his due portion with the rest
His evening meal upon the Goals was cooking:
babe fain would think, made glad the
n wife I'm sure: but he was anxious looking
To see his boys come driving home the cows.
80 thought had he to join the worlds great
battle.
Or follow in the ranks OF wealth and pride
These are his world; he knows no world be-
side.
Though few Of life's fair consultations enter
Tho door, to 50 desolate and dim.
That cabin on the prairie is the center
on the round earth and rolling heavens to him.
lie. too-so fancy runs-has his ambition:
To build a barn, renew that two years lean,
Improve each day little his condition,
And leave his children's better than his own.
TO petty cares, the lack OF tools and fences.
To rains, drOuGhts. weeds, the price of pork
and corn,
lie gives his years vet finds its reeompenses,
Even in the life we fancy so fOrlorn.
Man to the last child. who still amuses
Himself all day with trifies great and small,
Cherishes most the few poor toys he uses,
But given too many, learns to scorn them all.
'Sweeter than ease, sometimes, is rude priva-
tion;
Less tedious than long leisure to live through
Are days full packed with wholesome occupa-
ton:
Too many friends, no better than too few.
How little for our daily need sufices,
Could each but know, contented with his
share,
The frugal dish. which luxury despises,
Is TO the humble sweet and wholesome fare.
With hope, constant. cloud-illuming crescent,
With love, and work for head or hands, these
three.
Alike the mightiest king or lOwliest peasant
Finds life worth living each in his degree.
Culture and gold are good. but not by building
More stately porches may we lockt to win
Peace to our dwelling: nor by gaYly gliding
The fountain can we raise the flood within.
We ply the Gount with toll and rest and revel,
One casts in empires, anC one bagatelleS;
Still happiness in men will seek its level,
AS water from one source in many wells
~. 4. ITO2rbrjdge, an Y. Y. Independent.